There are few things that point to how Tacoma’s growing as plainly as the Freedom Fair.

Sure, it’s always been a huge deal.

In 1978, when I was 4 we’d make the pilgrimage from Lakewood to Ruston Way. It seemed like we had to walk forever, but in hindsight, I think we parked on Ruston Way.  Fast forward to the '80s, hanging out with high school friends, we’d drive to Thea Foss Waterway and hike through desolate spaces to the festivities.

Now we live about a mile away from the waterfront, and still try to score parking closer, but discovered this year, that wasn’t gonna’ be easy.

The thing was crazy busy, and kept getting busier, though the crazy part seemed to be kept in tow by the many police around.

But with a bored (and overwhelmed?) kid in tow, we found it easier to avoid the crowds and lines and come home, hang out with good friends and do quiet family things like water balloon fighting, eating, hosting our own version of a beer garden, and a taking a trip to Jefferson Park’s sprayground.  While on our way there, we found a mini Freedom Fair above it all, in the Baptist Seminary neighborhood, where I think we’ll hang out next year.

The part of the fireworks we could see from our house (we do have a commanding view of it from the roof, but couldn’t find our ladder) showed that that, too, has grown, compared to the parts we’ve been able to see the years before.

And while the whole day was super cool, it made me nostalgic to think back to the years when things were just a bit more mellow, the crowds were just a bit smaller, and the moving up Ruston Way went just a bit more quickly.

Because even when I was 8, though I didn’t want to walk (and there wasn’t much to see, except the fireworks,) I could get from point A to point B with a bit less irritation.

But seeing a huge crowd celebrate the day was fun to see, and  hearing about the people who made trips over from all kinds of surrounding spots made me proud of my city. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler